Hose clamp

Abstract

A clamp for reinforced flexible hose made of a continuous member which is attached to the reinforcement at one or both ends of the hose. Application of force to the clamp expands the hose end to permit insertion or removal of an adjacent member, such as a coupling or fitting.

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination, a flexible hose of nominal diameter having a reinforcing member comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced turns of a continuous helically wound coil and a cover tube, and a clamp, said clamp being a continuous wire member having one end thereof secured to the endmost turn of said coil and the other end thereof secured to the adjacent turn of said coil, said clamp having means to maintain said hose end at said nominal diameter, and portions of said clamp being adapted for motion relative to each other to move apart said ends of said wire of said clamp secured to said turns of said coil and to radially expand said hose end. 
     
     
       2. In combination, a flexible hose of nominal diameter having a reinforcing member comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced annular rings and a cover tube, the endmost ring of said hose having a gap, and a clamp, said clamp being a continuous wire member, the ends of said clamp being secured to said endmost ring at opposte sides of said gap, said clamp having means to maintain said hose end at said nominal diameter, portions of said clamp being adapted for motion relative to each other to move apart said ends of said wire of said clamp secured to said endmost ring at opposite sides of said gap and to radially expand said hose end. 
     
     
       3. The hose of claims 1 or 2 in which said clamp is formed of a single piece of spring wire. 
     
     
       4. The hose of claims 1 or 2 in which said clamp ends are secured by crimping onto said hose. 
     
     
       5. The hose of claims 1 or 2 in which said clamp is approximately in the shape of a triangle. 
     
     
       6. The hose of claim 5 in which said clamp is a continuous single-piece wire looped about itself approximately midway thereof to form biasing means at the apex of said triangle forcing the legs of the triangle outwardly from each other and maintaining said end at said nominal diameter. 
     
     
       7. The hose of claim 6 in which said legs are adapted to be forced toward each other to radially expand said hose end. 
     
     
       8. The hose of claims 1 or 2 in which said clamp is generally in the shape of a rectangle. 
     
     
       9. The hose of claims 1 or 2 in which said clamp is generally circular in shape.